Las Vegas NowLas Vegas Ranks Low on Safe Driver List

Las Vegas Ranks Low on Safe Driver List

There's finally tangible proof that Las Vegas drivers are among the worst drivers in the nation. Auto insurance company Allstate released its third annual "America's Best Drivers Report."

A new Allstate report ranks Las Vegas in the bottom third in the nation when it comes to being the best drivers.

Dan Stafford, a local driver, said, "I have seen people eat while driving. I have seen the classic make-up while driving. I watched people read while driving. It's scary."

Stafford knows. He helps motorists who have become victims of bad driving. Stafford logs 500 miles-per-week with Nevada's Freeway Service Patrol.

He cannot believe how distracted drivers in Las Vegas have become. Stafford thinks the amount of cars on the road and the cars themselves have become the problem.

"The automobile has become so convenient to drive with so many systems on the car that can make it less important for the person to actually drive. They forget to drive," he explained.

Whatever the cause Las Vegas ranks 167 out of 200 cities for having the best drivers. North Las Vegas does a little better at 151 out of 200. But Henderson made the largest decline in the southwest.

Drivers in Henderson actually pulled that city down 32 spots this year. The city of Henderson went from 88 to 120 on the list.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota ranks at the top of the list for safest drivers in the country and Newark, New Jersey is at the bottom. 

Traci Peterson, an Allstate spokeswoman, says driving more cautiously will save us money in the long run. "Less accidents hopefully will include fewer rate increases. We want to make sure our customers are doing those things they can to prevent collisions on the road."

Peterson believes education is the best way to change drivers' behavior. Stafford hopes knowing the ranking does the trick.

The study found that most accidents nationwide happen on Friday. Sunday had the second most accidents.

Las Vegas drivers can expect to be in an accident once every eight years. Once every ten years is the national average.

Allstate researchers looked at the frequency of accidents to come up with the list. The 2007 Allstate America's Best Drivers Report gives cities an accident rate based on the average years a driver goes between accidents.

Email your comments to Reporter Edward Lawrence.